Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
No. 2 seed Texas will take on No. 3 seed Louisiana on Friday to kick off the Coral Gables Regional.
Texas earned the No. 2 seed in the Coral Gables Regional for the NCAA Tournament. Continue reading “How to watch Texas baseball vs. Louisiana in Game 1 of the Coral Gables Regional”
Fans are fired up to see many new players sport the burnt orange tonight.
The Texas Longhorns will host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks to kick off the 2022 college football season on Saturday evening. Continue reading “Pregame social media buzz ahead of Texas’ season opener vs. Louisiana-Monroe”
Kirk Herbstreit deems Steve Sarkisian one of his top coaches of the week.
Week 1 marked the debut of Steve Sarkisian’s third head coaching stint, and it could not have gone any better.
While many college football experts were calling for the Longhorns to fall to the Billy Napier led Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Sarkisian and Co. had other plans.
After falling behind 3-0, Sarkisian started working his magic as he was scheming up plays to perfection. Texas would go on to take the lead, and the game was never in question again as they would go on to win 38-18.
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit ranked the top seven coaching performances of the week, and the first-year Texas head coach landed at No. 4. His team was prepared and composed in all three phases against Louisiana.
My top performing coaches from WEEK 1! 🏈
1. Dan Lanning, DC @GeorgiaFootball
2. Chip Kelly, @UCLAFootball
3. Will Healy, @CharlotteFTBL
4. Steve Sarkisian, @TexasFootball
5. Justin Hamilton, DC @HokiesFB
6. Brent Pry, DC @PennStateFball
7. Todd Orlando, DC @USC_FB pic.twitter.com/OBoXiRHZN1— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 7, 2021
Sarkisian deserved to be on the list as he had a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first career start. Thanks to the great play calling, Hudson Card was looking like a seasoned veteran behind center, while also displaying running back Bijan Robinson’s ability to do everything.
The Longhorns are headed to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas for their Week 2 matchup in what is expected to be a sellout crowd and a very hostile environment. While Sarkisian is used to the SEC crowds, many players for Texas will be playing in their most hostile away game as a Longhorn.
This has the chance to be a great win for the program, and if Sarkisian plays his cards right, he might end up on Herbstreit’s list again.
Three things we learned from the Week 1 win.
It is safe to say that the Longhorns made a statement on Saturday when they beat a top-25 team that returned all but two starters. By a comfortable margin of 20 points, too.
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program are very much headed in the right direction, and so far are off to a better start in comparison to the last regime’s initial start. Texas played as complete a game as a team can considering they had a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first career start, a new offense, and a new defense all while going up against the No. 23 team in the nation.
Some schools within the conference had more issues against unranked schools.
As always, when there is someone new in charge the old culture and methods are abandoned and forgotten in order to make way for the new. Taking on Louisiana Week 1 gave the Longhorns an opportunity to face quality talent, while also learn about themselves and establish the new culture. It also provided an insight of what the Sarkisian era will consist of.
There were many things that could be taken away from the game, such as the offensive line looking like more of a liability than Ryan Gosling at cornerback in Remember the Titans, the fact that the pass rush is immensely improved, or even that the Longhorns opted for white socks and cleats compared to the black socks and cleats that they had worn last season.
However, I think there were three things that stood out the most about Texas’ season opener.
What a great start to the season for Hudson Card.
Texas quarterback Hudson Card looked the part in his first career start on Saturday. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas QB Hudson Card’s three touchdowns from the win over Louisiana”
Everything Steve Sarkisian said after Week 1 win over Louisiana.
There was as much as anticipation as ever prior to Texas’ Week 1 matchup against Louisiana.
With a new coaching staff and young quarterback taking on the No. 23 team in the nation, the Longhorns were expected to be in a dog fight. The game was not nearly as close as experts predicted, as Texas only trailed the game for about the four minutes it took them to charge down the field and take a 7-3 lead, where they would eventually win 38-18.
It seemed that the offense was experiencing great success due to the play of Hudson Card, running back Bijan Robinson, and wide receiver Jordan Whittington. In what was a slow first drive for the offense, this trio really turned it up and was making plays for the rest of the game.
The new and improved defense was also very impressive, as they were able to hold Louisiana to 18 points, 76 yards rushing, and sacked the quarterback four times.
For it being his debut game, Steve Sarkisian likely could not have imagined it going any better. There is no better way than to start the season off with a convincing win.
After the game, Sarkisian spoke to the media to answer questions about the team’s performance. Take a look at everything he had to say on the next page.
In the end, it worked out for the Longhorns but ending Hudson Card’s night early was a mistake from Steve Sarkisian.
When Steve Sarkisian confirmed Hudson Card was going to be the starter against Louisiana, he immediately followed it up by saying Casey Thompson was going to get some playing time as well. The head coach mentioned both quarterbacks had “earned” their roles throughout fall camp.
Card impressed through the first two and a half quarters. His final stat line finished at 14 of 21, 224 passing yards, three total touchdowns (two passing). You could not have asked for a better debut from the redshirt freshman.
Then, Thompson was inserted, playing out the rest of the game. He finished with 80 passing yards on 4 of 5 passing. A swing screen out to Jordan Whittington in the red zone resulted in a touchdown as well.
In the end, it worked out for the Longhorns but ending Card’s night early was a mistake from Steve Sarkisian. A first-year starter does not need to be sitting on the sidelines after winning a competitive battle in practice.
Before Thompson was inserted into the game, here is how the previous three drives ended with Card running the show: Touchdown, touchdown, and touchdown.
The latter of the two was to begin the second half where the tempo was beginning to pick up. Texas scored both in just over three minutes compared to the first half where the scoring drives were 5:51 and 7:45. Card was just getting into the flow of Sarkisian’s high tempo and producing positive results.
Louisiana was still technically in striking distance as well. Texas was only up by two scores at the time of Thompson’s entrance. At home. Against a ranked opponent. The experience for Card would have been valuable heading into Arkansas and Big 12 play.
Thankfully, Thompson is the best backup in the conference and was able to march 83 yards down the field for a score. His second drive was after an onside kick and resulted in a field goal.
In no way, shape, or form is this an attack on Thompson and his ability. The competition was close throughout spring and fall camp for a reason. He could have been the one leading the troops out on Saturday.
But getting Thompson reps just to get him reps, after three consecutive touchdown drives from Card, does not follow the “All gas, no brakes” mentality Sarkisian has been trying to preach.
Let Card play a full four quarters and put Louisiana to bed himself. Keep calling the same offense and continue to hit the gas pedal. Get into the realm of 40 points and build even more confidence in the young starter.
Since the connection with Alabama is relevant via Sarkisian, here is one way to put it. Back in 2018 when Tua Tagovailoa beat out Jalen Hurts to be the starter, do you think Nick Saban would have switched guys just for the sake of it only up two possessions? The answer is no. Hurts’ role all season was being the backup and when the game was out of reach, he was able to get his snaps and throw the ball.
Thompson needs to be put in a similar role for the season but not because he is a bad quarterback. If Sarkisian is going to declare Card as the guy, make him the guy for the entirety of the game.
If the all too famous transfer portal is a fear of Sarkisian, then fair. But at some point down the road, Card’s experience and comfort level in the offense is going to be the difference between wins and losses.
Who were the studs and duds of Texas’ opener?
The Longhorns started the 2021 season off the way every team wants to, in the win column.
Steve Sarkisian silenced the doubters in the 38-18 win, although many expecte a new staff along with new players all over the field, Texas would struggle mightily against the No. 23 ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.
That was not the case at all, as the Longhorns only trailed for the blink of an eye after an early Louisiana field goal at the beginning of the first quarter, but Texas was able to take control and make a huge statement by picking up a win against a ranked team that finished 10-1 the season prior.
There were many positives for Texas, who were able to get the Sarkisian era off to a 1-0 start, something that former head coach Tom Herman could not do.
In each game, there are always people who play really well and stand out from the others, but unfortunately there is always some that do not play to the best of their ability.
Let’s take a look at three players who were “duds,” those who did not perform as well as expected, and three “studs,” players who performed well and contributed significantly to the win.
Since we’re only doing there, there are a couple of studs that aren’t included, but should be listed as honorable mentions. Those being DeMarvion Overshowm, Luke Brockermeyer, and of course the play calling of Steve Sarkisian.
What did you think?
The Steve Sarkisian era could not have gotten off to a better start, as Texas was firing on all cylinders.
Sarkisian led the No. 21 Longhorns into the new season, and his first game as the head coach happened to be against a very good No. 23 Louisiana team that finished 10-1 last season. The Ragin’ Cajuns looked outmatched seemingly all game after they took an early 3-0 lead. The Longhorns took the lead and never turned back winning the game 38-18.
Not only did Texas have a new head coach making his debut, but redshirt freshman quarterback Hudson Card made his first career start today and could not have done better. Card and of the offense stalled through the first couple drives, but being the offensive mastermind he is, Sarkisian put his young quarterback in position to succeed. Card finished the day 14-of-21 for 224 yards passing with two touchdowns, while also rushing for a touchdown.
The offense was very run heavy for their first couple drives, feeding the star running back Bijan Robinson who finished the game with 176 total yards and two touchdowns. However, Sarkisian was able to draw up a perfect play to get the Longhorns on the board for the first time of the season and new era, while also giving Hudson Card his first career touchdown pass when he connected with Bijan Robinson.
The Hudson Card era has officially begun for @TexasFootball 🤘@Hcard7 finds @Bijan5Robinson for the TD!
(Sponsored by @Allstate #AllstateGoodHands) pic.twitter.com/RMlWAKOLC0
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 4, 2021
Even when the offense was struggling to get things going at first, the Texas defense had a great game. There were a couple drives towards the end of the game that weren’t pretty, but overall the defense did quite well.
The Longhorns third down defense was stellar, as they held Louisiana to 4-of-13 on third down conversions. Led by linebackers DeMarvion Overshown and former walk-on Luke Brockermeyer, the defense was swarming to the ball. Notre Dame transfer Ovie Oghoufo had a great game as well recording a very impressive sack, and a nice pass breakup.
Ovie Oghoufo with a clutch sack on 3rd and 8. #HookEm https://t.co/3aR73fn744 pic.twitter.com/EucUrfXx5i
— Hudson Standish (@WabashIT) September 4, 2021
The Texas defense finished the game with seven total sacks, holding Louisiana offense to 76 yards rushing, and for the most part making life for fifth year senior quarterback Levi Lewis miserable the whole game. The defense’s penetration was there all game, making it hard on the Ragin’ Cajuns offensive line, and outside of the drive where Louisiana scored their last touchdown, the tackling was very much improved in comparison to last season.
The offense did have a few people stand out as well, especially receiver Jordan Whittington, who in his first two seasons has been injury plagued. There were questions as to who would step up in the receiver group, and Whittington was that guy. He finished with a team leading seven catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Jordan Whittington breaking tackles for the 41 yard catch! pic.twitter.com/D4Qb7NXXMz
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) September 4, 2021
There were also questions about junior quarterback Casey Thompson, and whether he would rotate in, which he did get in the game in meaningful action. Thompson came into the game with Texas up 16 points, and played well in his limited time going 4-of-5 for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The biggest issue for the Longhorns in the win was the offensive line, who gave up five sacks. It’s not easy for a young quarterback to feel comfortable in a packed stadium in his first career start against a ranked team, but having to run for his life every single play seemingly does not help either. Louisiana has a very good defensive unit, but the amount of pressure they got on the Texas quarterbacks was ridiculous.
The Longhorns will certainly focus on the offensive line issues to prepare for their game against Arkansas, but for now the program can celebrate a tad. The Sarkisian era is off to a 1-0 start, and in a game that many figured would be decided by single digits, they won by 20. There is still plenty of room to grow, but compared to other teams in the Big 12, Texas looked like one of the best today.
The Steve Sarkisian era is off to a flying start with UT up on Louisiana at halftime, 14-6. Both sides of the ball have been playing well.
The Steve Sarkisian era is off to a flying start with Texas up on Louisiana at halftime, 14-6.
With Hudson Card making his first career start, most of the eyes have been on the redshirt freshman quarterback. He found running back Bijan Robinson late in the first quarter to get the scoring starting. It was an excellent play call by Sarkisian, shifting the offense multiple times to get Robinson in acres of space.
Cade Brewer was on the receiving end of the second touchdown. Both of Texas’ scoring drives have come on long drives. The ‘All Gas, No Brakes’ slogan has not been fully shown on offense quite yet. It’s been more of a grind for Sarkisian’s crew.
Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense has been playing better than imagined as well. Louisiana only has 124 yards and has yet to convert a third down. A first-quarter field goal is the only points the Ragin Cajuns have managed.
Nickel has been the base formation throughout the first half. Former walk-on Luke Brockermeyer has been all of the field at weakside linebacker.
Key stats
Hudson Card: 12 of 18, 165 yards, two touchdowns
Bijan Robinson: 10 carries for 38 yards. Three receptions for 55 yards, one touchdown
Jordan Whittington: Three receptions, 39 yards
Levi Lewis: 6 for 12, 86 yards
Going into the second half, Sarkisian will want to get the wide receiver involved more often. Xavier Worthy made an impressive play downfield for 34 yards, while Jordan Whittington has three receptions for 39 yards.
Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.
